Machine for holding and dispensing soda-water straws.



R. J. WOODBURY. MACHINE FOB HOLDING AND DISPENSWG SODA WATER STBAWS.

APPLICATION FILED LPE.26, 1910.

Patented Mar. 21, 1911.

3 8HEETB-SHEET 1.

R. J. WOODBURY. Hummer AND DISPENSING SODA WATER STBAWS.

APPLICATION FILED LPBHM, 1910.

MACHINE FOB.

Patented 131.21, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

n. J. WOODBURYE MACHINE FOB. HOLDING AND DISPENSING SODA WATER STBAWS.

APPLICATION FILED APILZB, 1910.

Patented Mar. 21, 1911.

3 SHEET BBHBET 3.

iii

m% m M UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROY J. WOODBURY, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA, ASSIGNOR T0 C. H. TEMPLE AND MARYA. TEMPLE, 0F FULTONCOUNTY, GEORGIA.

MACHINE FOR HOLDING AND DISPENSING SODA-WATER STRAWS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

The object of the invention is the provi-' sion of a machine for holdingand dispensing soda water straws one at a time and forpreventingcontamination of the straws by dust, flies or other foreign matter.

A still fprther object of the invention is the provision of a simple,cheap and efficient machine of this character which is provided withmeans for displaying the straws in such a manner that the impression isgiven of a continuously full machine.

A still further object of the invention is I the provision in a machineof this character of a trippmgmechanism for controlling the admission ofthe straws to the discharge wheel and for preventing crowding or jammingof the straws at this oint, and a still further object is the provisionof means for preventing the ingress of dirt to the machine when ininoperative position.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the specific descriptionwhich follows is read in connection with the accompanying drawings whichform a part of this specification and in which Figure l is a perspectiveview of the de vice. Fig. 2 is an end view partly in section. Fig. 3 isaperspective View of the front casing removed. Fig. 4: is a transversesection on the line 44 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail edge view of atrippawl. Fig. 6 is a detail'side elevation of the same. Fig. 7 is a detailerspective view of the operating shaft and its connected parts, andFig.8 is a detail end elevation of the door.

Referring more especially to the drawings 1 and 2 represent end members,the latter of which is provided with an additional closing portion 3between which and the end member 2 is located the operatmg lever lpivoted to the end member 2. This lever is' in the end membersand'extendsthejull length of the machine. Surrounding one end of theshaft is a spiral spring 7 which is connected at one end to the shaftand at the opposite end to the end member 1. so that the shaft isautomatically returned to normal. Bridged between the end members andextending vertically on the arc of a cir-- cle is the wheel casing 9..At a point substantially opposite to the beginning of the circle 9 thecasing is bent downwardly as at 10 and then slopes oil as at 11 in theform of a tray 12 which is adapted to receive the articles dispensed.The. forward end of the tray is raised at 13 and then depends to thebase 14. The raised portion is provided to prevent the dispensedarticles from falling off the tray. when discharged by the machine.Opposite the circular portion 9 of the easing is a similar portion 15which forms with the portion 9 openings a?) and (:(Z and secured uponthe shaft 7 to operate between the portions 9 and 15 are the dischargewheels 16 arranged adjacent the ends of the shaft and provided each witha straw receiving notch 17 which when in normal position is in registerwith the opening ab. The discharge wheels and their straw receivingnotches are forced around to regis-' ter with the opening cd when thelever 14: is depressed and this portion carries one straw around to bedischarged down the tray 12. In order to close the opening c(Z when thewheels are in normal position I secure to said wheels a curved plate 18which bridges the opening and prevents ingress of dust, dirt or otherforeign substance.

Hinged to the end members upon the forward side is an inwardly swingingdoor 1.) which has its lower end bent at substantially rightanglesthereto as at 20 so as to lie within the path of the tripping pawl 21.This trippin pawl is secured upon the square shaft? and has a pivotedengaging nose 22 which is adapted to swing in one direction only. Vhe'nthe pawl is moved in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 4:. it willengage the angular end 20 of the door 19 and carry it inwardly thusmoving all of the straws in the receptacle 23 to one side of the opening((,-l') and allow only one straw to engage the notches 17015 thedischarge wheels. The pawl 21 carries the door 19 with it until theangular portion 20 is released by reason of being drawn out of PatentedMar. 21, 1911.

the are of travel of said pawl at which time I lions as are within thescope of the apit drops back to the normal position shown in Fig. 4.Upon the depression of the lever 4, the nose 22 of the pawl engages theangular end of the door 19 but gives and slips past the angular endwithout any action t iereu on.

Arrange between the ends 1 and 2 is a closing display door 24 for thecasing which is hinged to the end members as at 25 to move outwardly.lhis door comprises an inner semi-circular metallic support 2.6 and anouter transparent cover 27 connected to the inner easing at its ends byend members 28. The end opposite to the hinging point of this receptacleabuts against the end of the casing 8 and entirely closes the receptacle23. This receptacle 24 is entirely filled with straws so that itpresents to the eye the appearance of a continuously full dispensingmachin'e.

Bridged between the ends of the casing is a shield 29 which extends froma point below the hinge to a point in a plane hori zontal with the upperedge of the casing 8 and conforms to the supporting member 26 of thereceptacle 2%. This shield is provided to prevent the loss of the strawswithin the receptacle 23 when the door of the receptacle 24 is open.

From the foregoing it is believed that the operation of the'device willbe clearly understood without further description, and

it is to be understood that such modificapended claim are contemplatedby me. \Vhat is claimed, is In a device of the class described, end

members, a'casing connected to said end members, a discharge trayforining a part of the casing, a shaft journaled in the end members,notched discharge Wheels carried by the shaft, said casing beingprovided with an opening to re ister with the notches in the discharge\rhce said casing also provided with an opening for dischargin thearticles from the discharge wheels, a ever for operating the shaft inone direction, resilient means for returning the shaft to normal in theopposite direction, an inwardlyopening door-hinged to the end members,and comprising part of the casing, a pawl carried by the shaft andhaving a pivoted nose adapted to engage the door in the retrogrademovement of the shaft to move, the articles in the casing away from thedischarge opening, said pawl adapted to idly trip past the door in theoperative movement of said shaft, and means carried by the dischargewheels for closing the dispensing opening when the wheels are in normalposition.

